Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle Reading App. Then you can start reading Kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Rob Wardell is a seventeen-year old who feels like he doesn't quite fit in anywhere--not at home, not at school and not on the baseball field. The small, shy boy stays on the high school baseball team only to please his father since he knows he will never get to play. He's living his life alone until he finds himself drawn into a friendship with the team's new star pitcher, Josh Schlagel. The two boys hit it off instantly; maybe it's because Josh isn't exactly welcomed by the team either. But as Rob and Josh grow closer and start spending more time together away from the field, Rob realizes this his friend is hiding something. The bruises on Josh's body and his reluctance to let Rob know about certain parts of his life have Rob suspicious. When Josh's secrets are finally revealed and become life threatening, Rob and his family must step up to the plate.

"What We Talk About When We Talk About Love" by Raymond Carver
Join Carver in his second collection of stories as he rightly celebrates those characters that others too often consider peripheral.
See more

{"currencyCode":"USD","itemData":[{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":15.99,"ASIN":"0982513208","isPreorder":0},{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":6.73,"ASIN":"0618111301","isPreorder":0},{"priceBreaksMAP":null,"buyingPrice":11.44,"ASIN":"0758269277","isPreorder":0}],"shippingId":"0982513208::x7zCvV2h7g7IEkwJsrGnk0RBGAfa4Qhs9Rixv9V1PXybs5ksTFkSiz9Ce75qWuK4%2F4puKILBdQfxIMapb1QMYDIoybQHOFC3GJK1ZFGAfKMKCYqnNuIOrQ%3D%3D,0618111301::DIr4e%2Fk83VmQ1hbFASdLx3mlj77ZALdBaatKc8kYVIWrgm2f3sZxx2ORSgDG0x2tN77lTLujXAD8OwsU9MmQL3kOeg%2BkCjy%2BLXzwmUcjbVo%3D,0758269277::wmwFagIv0y5cwC6lSEfT%2FYMiNIal6TtxMITAv13IBpLLJQRuypasZVtM7prPYlWQDmaCeU4fu31EqOcYzXTkBb0zvjGDgIqpJ%2FTvMBjLztf5cgzO84p8pg%3D%3D","sprites":{"addToWishlist":["wl_one","wl_two","wl_three"],"addToCart":["s_addToCart","s_addBothToCart","s_add3ToCart"],"preorder":["s_preorderThis","s_preorderBoth","s_preorderAll3"]},"shippingDetails":{"xz":"availability","xy":"availability","yz":"same","xyz":"availability"},"tags":["x","y","z","w"],"strings":{"showDetails":"Show details","differentAvailabilityAll":"Some of these items ship sooner than the others.","addToWishlist":["Add to Wish List","Add both to Wish List","Add all three to Wish List","Add all four to Wish List"],"shippingError":"An error occurred, please try again","differentAvailability":"One of these items ships sooner than the other.","preorder":["Pre-order this item","Pre-order both items","Pre-order all three items","Pre-order all four items"],"addToCart":["Add to Cart","Add both to Cart","Add all three to Cart","Add all four to Cart"],"showDetailsDefault":"Show availability and shipping details","priceLabel":["Price:","Price for both:","Price for all three:","Price For All Four:"],"hideDetailsDefault":"Hide availability and shipping details","hideDetails":"Hide details"}}

"The Prisoner" by Omar Shahid Hamid
"The Prisoner" is a fast-paced thriller that brings politics and a perception of the moral ambiguities of justice set against the backdrop of Pakistan life.
See more

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Once I began reading 'Rounding Third' I started to sing the song 'It Gets Better, Better, Better' to Bobby and Josh, since it seemed their lives just kept getting worse and worse and worse. I kept thinking, Where's the cavalry? Why don't these poor boys have more support during this insanity? Surely things have got to turn around soon! Finally, about midway through the book, help arrives. It may sound as if I didn't appreciate 'Rounding Third', but nothing could be further from the truth. I was profoundly affected. At times I read with tears in my eyes, a lump in my throat and my heart pounding. I was so terribly angry, yet I simply had to know what would happen next even though the future seemed dismal.

I was especially impressed by Bobby and how he chose to face up to the abuse rather than letting it rule his life. He worked to incorporate his uniqueness, rather than reject it and listen to the inexcusable messages of disdain bestowed upon him for being different.

My heart went out to Josh. He lacked Bobby's self confidence and nurturing, therefore, he had no compass to follow. He wasn't able to defend himself and it almost destroyed him. Unlike Rob who was able to slide roughly, but safely home, poor Josh had struck out before he even got up to bat.

'Rounding Third' is definitely not for casual reading; it's intense and very worthwhile. Its bold message broke my heart, but perhaps that's what's needed. Maybe more hearts need to be broken. More people need to be unsettled because that's what it will take for things to change. Although it will be most appreciated by young gay men, anyone could benefit from reading 'Rounding Third'. It's my sincere hope that many people do.

WOW. This book took me back 25 years to when I was the age of these characters 16 to 18.I dont want to give anything away but I will say it captured all the emotions, thoughts, dreams, that I went through. It is a timeless story about love. Ahhh first loves. Anyone who was a gay teen or is a teen now needs to read this book. It was close to reading my own story. It really brought back the emotions I felt with my firstlove. I am still not over it to this day.

I was really broken hearted after I read this book. I can understand why Josh is not as confident as Bob/Rob. Because Bob is sorounded with love and even if he was a cute loner he does not fall into looking for love from someone else though he's not aware that he has his family that loved him so much, his character is totally opposite from Josh. Josh has a complet set of family but gave him different kind of love which is coming from their blind faith to their religion. As a result, Josh looked for love and acceptance from other people that nearly caused him his life.I really like the development of the story that shows how real the characters are with their flaws and emotions flowing in every page. I also like how the author mixes up the "gay issue" with religion and sports which show how some people react to the issue.I just hope Mr. Meyer would make a sequel to the story of Rob and Josh with their exploration to the world now that they are living separately. Don't you think it is a good idea to continue the story where Rob would truly find a love of his own and not be afraid to show it? Someone who can defend him and be proud of him. I mean he deserved it. And Josh will finally come to a realization to be strong enough to stand for himself and for his brothers and sisters. I also want to see Mat grow up and see how rebellious side will bring him.Thanks Mr. Meyer. I just hope you would consider my request and Im sure Im not the only making this request. More power to you and to the kids out there who are being victimized by bigotry and bullying.

Rounding Third is the story of Rob Wardell, a high school senior who feels he's a misfit, no matter where he is: home, school, or baseball team. He's suffered years of bullying from classmates and has done his best to make himself invisible to avoid further torment. As he develops a friendship with teammate, Josh Schlagel, a new student with a dark secret, Rob begins to outgrow his childish notions of what it means to be confident. He starts to understand that walking through one's fear makes the difference between success and failure.

As the story takes a heart-wrenching turn, Rob is faced with a real world test of his new understanding. A life is on the line, and it's up to Rob to decide whether to take action and damn the consequences, or do the safe thing.

Walter Mayer's insight into family relations, friendship, and teen angst in general give a view both warm and stark into the workings of small town life. His characters are so realistic, they are bound to make the reader cringe and laugh at turns.

The novel is a poignant demonstration that bullying takes many forms, comes from a surprising number of sources, and isn't limited to schoolyard fights among hormone-addled youths. It's a painful reminder of what happens when people decide to segregate a group of others and dehumanize and demonize them by labeling "Them." In this case, "They" are gay, but could just as well have been women, blacks, Native Americans, or Japanese Americans, as in some of the more shameful points in our history. Bullying affects everyone, and the hopeful message of this novel is that we are not doomed to repeat history. Every one of us has the ability to bring change...if we only choose to use it.

More About the Author

A native of Pittsburgh, but now a Southern California resident, Walter G. Meyer says his writing career began when he won a short-story contest from the Atlantic Monthly when he was in the fourth grade. He turned pro when he started freelancing for the local newspaper when he was in high school. After a degree from the School of Journalism at Penn State, he went on to freelance for numerous newspapers and magazines including the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Kiplinger's Personal Finance,Out and the Orange County Register. In addition to his novel, Rounding Third, he has co-authored two books--Going for the Green: Selling in the21st Century and Day is Ending: a doctor's love shattered by Alzheimer's disease which has been optioned to possibly be a TV movie based on his script. The stage play that he co-wrote, GAM3RS, has been performed in the New York International Fringe Festival, at theaters across the country, and at colleges from MIT to UCSD. waltergmeyer.com